Ming-Na Wen, formerly from ER and Stargate Universe, will play a "soulful" and "damaged" pilot named Melinda May in Joss Whedon's new S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show. Melinda May is described as "an ace pilot, a weapons expert and a soldier who can - and has - gone beyond the call of duty." And apparently she's the character who was originally named Special Agent Althea Rice, aka the Cavalry, in the first casting breakdown. Also, judging from some of the reports out there, it sounds like the late Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) might only be in the show's pilot, not an ongoing character. [Deadline via E! Online]